We’ve Got It Covered

Since the very first recordings and phonograph records were in their infancy the ‘cover version’ has become a staple of the music business. Initially it was rival record labels releasing their version of a song that had been ‘sold’ to them by a music publisher, publisher’s eager to earn royalties for their songwriter. Inevitably someone had to record a song first and even as late as the 1950s there could be as many as a dozen competing versions of the same song; sometimes more than one version made the best seller list.

From the 1960s onwards it became normal for there to have been just one version of a song issued and it then took its chances as to whether or not the public liked it well enough to make it a hit. Sometimes they did, sometimes they didn’t and in some cases the songs on our list were covered in the years following the original recordings release, after it had not become a hit and these ‘covers’ are the the ones we best remember – Lulu’s ‘Shout’ is the perfect example, few people today remember the Isley Brothers’ original.

The Walker Brothers version of ‘Make It Easy On Yourself’ is another example. Written by Bacharach and David this was originally recorded by Jerry Butler and made #20 on the Billboard chart and sold virtually nothing in the UK when it was released in 1962. Three years later the Walker Brothers took it to the top of the UK charts and went 4 places better than Jerry Butler on the American charts; today the Walker Brothers version is the one that is played and best remembered.

A similar case in point is The Rolling Stones’ version of Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Little Red Rooster’, that was in fact written by Willie Dixon. Barely anyone in Britain had heard of Wolf when the Stones topped the UK singles chart in December 1964. Wolf’s version had come out on Chess Records in late 1961 and apart from selling well in Chicago and some other cities, and the Southern States, where black record buyers bought it, the sales were mediocre. Inexplicably London Records in America failed to issue the Stones version as a single, but ‘Little Red Rooster’ has the honour of being the first, and one of the only, blues records to top the charts.

Why do artists cover records? Well, because they think a song may have hit potential is the obvious answer. But in many instances it s because an artist loves a particular songwriter or another performer. Brian Wilson idolised Phil Spector’s productions and so he and The Beach Boys covered the Crystals, ‘Then He Kissed Me’. The all girl group had already had a big hit with it and the Beach Boys failed to beat their success, but it is a classic homage.

In many cases the cover has become so well known that the original is barely remembered. The Four Tops ‘Walk Away Renee’ (originally done by the Left Banke), ‘Go Now’ by The Moody Blues (originally Bessie Banks), ‘Strawberry Letter 23’ from the Brothers Johnson (Shuggie Otis), ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ by Thin Lizzy (The Dubliners), ‘Superstar’ from the Carpenters (Delaney & Bonnie) and Jimi Hendrix version of Bob Dylan’s ‘All Along the Watchtower’.

The Beatles are one of the most covered artists in the world and we have selected a few gems for you. Siouxsie and the Banshee’s brilliant take on ‘Dear Prudence’, Wilson Pickett’s ‘Hey Jude’ and a brilliant version of ‘And your Bird Can Sing’ from the Jam. Perhaps most interesting of all is Fats Domino’s recording of ‘Lady Madonna’, because originally Paul McCartney wrote it in homage to the New Orleans piano man.

While some covers ape the original recordings others take them to a new and in some cases virtually unrecognizable place. Take Isaac Hayes’s version of Jimmy Webb’s song that was originally a hit for Glen Campbell; ‘By The Time I Get to Phoenix’ is a whole new deal. It’s the same with Cream’s ‘Crossroads’ (Robert Johnson originally), The extended version of ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ by Diana Ross (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell), Deep Purple, ‘Hush’ (Joe South) and The Nice’s frenzied attack on Leonard Bernstein’s ‘America’ from West Side Story.

There are other songs that have two lives as hit records; Barry White’s ‘Just The Way You Are’ was a massive hit for its writer Billy Joel. UB40 and Chrissie Hynde’s take on Sonny and Cher’s ‘I’ve Got You Babe’, and Grand Funk Railroad’s very different look at Little Eva’s ‘The Loco-motion’; it’s one of those rarities where both versions topped the charts.

Anyway, there you have it, our list of 100 of the greatest cover versions ever. What do you think we’ve missed…and just as importantly why do you think your song should be on the list?

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds – Elton John
Get Back – Rod Stewart
Help! – Henry Gross
Michelle – Ricardo Cocciante
If Not For You – George Harrison
Roll Over Beethoven – E.L.O
Let’s Spend the Night Together – David Bowie
(They Long To Be) Close To You – Carpenters
Till There Was You – The Beatles
Love Is Here to Stay – Brian Wilson
Stormy Weather – Jeff Lynne
Angel Baby – John Lennon

uh, the greatest cover of all time is probably Aretha Franklin’s cover of Respect. I can’t believe you missed that one. And where’s Jimi Hendrix’s cover off All along the watchtower? Bob Dylan plays his version in concert. U2’s version of Helter Skelter is a better cover than their version of Paint it Black, Ella Fitzgerald’s cover of sunshine of your love is absolutely brilliant, jeff beck’s cover of a day in the life, and john legends version of u2’s pride are also worth noting, and that’s just off the top of my head.

great topic….but how the hell can anyone not consider Kris Kristoffersons’ ”me and bobby mcgee” by Janis Joplin ?and for those who have not heard these….how about…Freddie kings’ version of dylans’ ”meet me in the morning”….phil manzanera/enos’ version of beatles’ ”tomorrow never knows”…frank zappas’ version of ”stairway to heaven” with the horn section jamming pages’ solo……government mule/w/peter framptons’ version of ”born under a bad sign”……. and please give credit to Mr. Robert Zimmerman….as the greatest songwriter of all-time….just look at the vast amount of folks who choose to cover him.

Eleanor Rigby by The Zoot.
Stand By Me by John Lennon.
Glad All Over by Hush.
Turn The Page by Jon English.
Fire & Rain by Marcia Hines.
(All the above on my list accept John Lennon are Australian Artists)

Unless I have missed it one of the best covers ever must surely be Joe Cockers version of the Beatles,with a little help from my friends.also the Carpenters do a fine cover of Klattuu’s Calling occupants of interplanetary craft. On a less commercial note Deff Leapard do a great version of Thin Lizzys Don’t beleive a word.

Hey, if you’re going to put a few up by Bob Dylan, you can’t leave out Rage Against the Machine’s cover of Maggie’s Farm. Much, much better than the original. And hey, while you have the Stones up there, might want to add Grand Funk Railroad’s covers of Gimme Shelter or another of their covers, Feelin’ Alright by Traffic.

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